Press



C- 22, 1946 J. P. BARBOUR 2,409,824

PRESS Filed July 2, 1941 5 sheets-sheer 1 lNvi-:NToR I JAMES r2. BARBOUQ AT1-onu:

'.1. P. HARBOUR Oct. 22, 1946 PRESS Filed July 22, `1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lal NVENTOR v ATTDRFEY J. P. BARBOUR 2,409,824

PRESS Filed July 22, 1941 Oct. 22, 1946.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 sNvENToR -l li 9 .JAMES Fa BARBOUR Patented Oct. 22, 1946 PRESS James P. Barbour, Philadelphia, Pa., assgnor to The Baldwin Locomotive Works, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 22, 1941, Serial No. 403,495

(Cl. Z8-0.5)

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to presses especially for forming briquettes and relates more particularly to improved means for controlling the briquetting operation to avoiddamage to the press in the event that an abnormal operating condition occurs.

ABriquet presses whether of the mechanical or hydraulic type are arranged to compress loose material such as metal chips or lathe turnings into small compact briquettes. One difficulty in this type of press is the possible failure of the machine to eject a completed briquet in which case a second briquet tends to be formed while the first briquet still remains in the machine.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for rendering the press inoperative automatically upon occurrence of a predetermined abnormal operating condition, such for example as the failure to properly eject a formed product. A further object is to provide improved means for automatically preventing damage to the press in case the briquetting mold is filled with an excessive quantity of material.

Another object is to provide improved means for relieving a coniining force on the briquetting material automatically in the event an excessive amount of material accumulates in front of the compressing plunger.

A further object is to provide an improved toggle mechanism and means for breaking the same to relieve the compressing pressure automatically when excessive material accumulates in the briquet mold.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the fcllowing description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a briquetting press embodying my improved toggle control which is shown in its normally operative position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1 but showing the toggle mechanism in its broken position together with release of the mold to allow discharge of a second briquet;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the toggle mechanism and operating means therefor in its normally operative position;

Fig. 4 is an. enlarged fragmentary section showing the toggle mechanism in its broken position;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the toggle mechanism with certain parts omitted for sake of clarity;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the abnormal presence of two briquettes in the press mold and disclosing the relation of the operating rams and plungers just prior to the automatic breaking of the toggle control;

lFig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the relation of the operating rams and plungers at the instant when breaking of the toggle mechanism is initiated;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. l with certain parts omitted for sake of clarity; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

In the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, I have shown my invention embodied in a briquetting press of the type disclosed in Smith et al. United States Patent 1,473,389. For purposes of simplicity many of the parts of this type of press are omitted from the disclosure herein but it may be considered to be identical to that disclosed in said Smith et al. patent except Where certain details are changed to adapt my improvement thereto.

Briefly, the press consists of four horizontal tie rods I, Figs. 1 and 8, for holding together longitudinal frame sections 2 and for supporting stationary transverse crossheads 3 and 4 and a fixed material hopper 5. The lower end of hopper 5 is provided with a discharge opening '6 through which material is forced by a compressing plunger 'I slidable through one side of the lower end of hopper 5. The plunger 'I is secured to a movable crosshead 8 which is actuated by a ram 9 in a stationary cylinder I0. To move ram 3 and plunger 'I forwardly a pressure generating ram II extends through the rear end of cylinder I0 and is actuated by a suitable rotating crankshaft I2 and connecting rod I3, the crankshaft being rotated by any suitable motor and gearing (not shown).

Placed in alignment with the hopper outlet 6 is a floating mold IlI having a pair of stripper actuating rods I5 slidably extending through a reciprocating mold actuating crosshead I6, the rods being provided with nuts II for engaging crosshead I6 during its rearward stripping action movement. The crosshead I6 is adapted on its foward movement (to the left, Fig. 1l to move mold I4 against hopper 5 whereby material may be transferred from the outlet 6 into the mold by plunger 1. To accomplish this forward or closing movement of mold I4 a pair of plungers I8, connected to crosshead I6, moves forwardly in a pair of cylinders I9 formed within stationary crosshead 4 thereby to maintain a forward force on a second pair of plungers 20 which are connected to mold I4.

The mold actuating cylinders I9 are connected to any suitable source of constant pressure such as an intensifier or accumulator (not shown) through a pipe 2| and similarly the main compressing cylinder I is .connected by a pipe 22 to a source of constant pressure specifically shown in the form of an intensifier 23. To reciprocate the plungers I8 against the action of the constant pressure in pipe 2I`the crosshead I6 `is mechanically reciprocated by a crank arm 25 secured to a shaft 26 which is suitably journalled in stationary crosshead 3 while an operating arm 2 also secured to shaft 26 is o-scillated 'by the connecting rod 28 extending forwardly to a pivoted lever 29, link 29', connecting rod 30 and' crosshead 3l to which rod I3 is connected. This operating connection insures closure of mold I4 during initial forward movement of compressing plunger l, it being understood that after closure of the mold any additional movement of the connection 3l! will be taken up :by movement of link '29 relative to lever 29 when the latter is in its horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1 but any small further movement that might be imparted to lever 23 is allowed by movement of plungers I 8 within the cylinders I9, all as described in said Smith et. al. Patent 1,473,389, thereby insuring that mold I 4 is held rmly in contact with the hopper 5. The crank arm 25 transmits motion to the crosshead I andY plungers I8 through a normally aligned pair of links 32 and 33 respectively connectedvto crossheadv I6 and arm 25 by pivots 34 and 35 and are connectedV together by a pivot pin 36. These links constitute a toggle by themselves and when held in rigid alignment also constitute one link of a toggle with arm 25. The sections 32 and 33 are normally held in rigid alignment by a cylinder 3l, Figs. 3 and 9, pivotally supported as at 38 to link 33 while a piston 39 is pivotally connected at 49 to an arm 4I formed rigidly with link 32, Figs. 3 and 4. Constant fluid pressure supplied from any suitable source (not shown) through a pipe 45 to the left closed end of cylinder 31 causes the piston 39 and cylinder 31 to pull pivots 38 and 43 toward each other and accordingly force links 32 and 33 downwardly into alignment as shown in Fig. 3. To limit the downward movement of these links a pair of stops 42 and 43 are formed respectively on said links so as to engage each other when these links are in alignment. To effect the foregoing action fluid pressure in the right end of cylinder 3l is exhausted through a pipe 46 and valve 44 while the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 3. When valve 44 is in the position of Fig. 4 fluid pressure from any continuous source such as an intensiiier 23 connected to a pipe 22 is supplied to the right end of cylinder 3l `to move pivots 38 and 40 away from each other. thereby breaking links 32 and 33 as shownin Fig. 4 andr allowing mold actuating crosshead I6 to have free movement toward the right for .rendering the briquetting action inoperative as hereinafter described regardless of the continued actuation of crank arm 25. The cylinder 3l Vand piston rod will swing aroundpivot 38 during movement of crosshead i6.

The valve 44 is manually moved to its-.position shown in Fig. 3 whereasmovement toits position of Fig. 4 is upon energization. of a solenoid 47.` The solenoid is energized upon closure of a switch 49, Fig. 1, mounted upon and movable with crosshead 8. The switch is adapted to be closed by a cam 49 formed on one of a plurality of pullback rods 53 connected to crosshead 3I Vand slidably extending through crosshead 8,V

although a pair of nuts 5I on saidv rods are adapted t0 engage crosshead 8 tohold the same to the left upon return movement of crosshead 3|.

Operation Assume that the press elementsare in the position shownin'Fg. 1 and that the crankshaft I2 has initially moved crosshead 3l and plunger Il on its compressing stroke (to the right) sufficient to close mold E and compress iiuid in cylinder I9. Continued compression of fluid in cylinder I accordingly moves plunger 9, crosshead 3 and compressing plunger l to the right so as to force material from hopper 5 ahead of plunger 'I intofmold cavity i4. Lateral resistance between a partially formed briquet and the side walls of mold I 4 will cause the mold to move or iloat slightly to the right under continued compressing movement thereby expelling liquid from cylinders I9 back into the source of constant pressure connected to pipe 2 I. During this floating action rods I5, Fig. 1, will slide through crosshead I6. vThe briquet'55 is nally fully compressed against a stationary backing plunger 53 secured to stationary crosshead 4. Upon completion of this compressing action crankshaft I2 moves crosshead 3l and connecting rod I3 to the left and by reason of nuts 5I engaging crosshead 8 plunger 'I is'withdrawn and simultaneously floating moldV I4 is moved to the' right through the action of'links 30, link 29', lever 29 and link 28 which causes arm '25 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Arm 25 thus pulls on the links 32 and 33 and crosshead IG to engagev nuts Il and'accordingly pull the moldA away from the hopper and over theremaining portion of backing plunger 53 thereby to force or strip the briquet out of the mold. The` discharged briquet will fall upon a suitable conveyor or container generally indicated at 54. O-nthe next compressingstroke of crosshead 3i the links-39, connecting rod`23 and' arm 25 will relatively rapidly return the crosshead I6 to its normal position during the'relatively slow initial compressing movementgof plunger 1 and accordingly reclose the mold preparatory to being recharged for the next briquet. If for any reason the briquet previously formed was Vnotdischarged from the mold I4, then .it is seen that the next briquet 56 will beformed' against the first briquet within the moldand consequently there is danger of jamming certain parts. When this occurs the compressing movementof plunger l will be vstopped prematurely, although movement of ram II may be normal by reason of the fluid in cylinder ill' .being discharged through pipe 22'to intensier 23. However, care mustfbe taken not to have ram II hit plunger 3V which may. result` in damage to various par-tsio'f the press equipment. `When plunger 'I andits crosshead 8A stop prematurely, then rods 5'9'will continue to move tothe right until cam 49 engages switch arm 58 thereby closing switch 48 to energize.. solenoid 4l and accordingly move Vvalve 44, Fig. 4, to thejleft.. This immediately admits-fluid pressure from intens'iiierl pipe 22.through. pipe 45 to the right end" of cylinder 3l and accordingly breaks the aligned position of links 321`and 33'as shown in Fig. 4 whereby'constant pressure- 'move'mold I4 to the right for stripping whatever excess material may bein the mold for forming the second briquet and for, renderingineiectual' the .compressiveeiect of plunger g1; Breaking-of the toggle links will preventY the moldi'beingreclosed and hence further briquettes cannot. be

made untilthe operator removes the'rstbriquet l that is stuck in the 'mold' and thenresetsth'e toggles32, and33 by manually shifting vali/e744" to the right.

One reason for briquettes sticking in the'mold is that after the' backing plunger 53 o r the walls of mold hl become worn, shavings or chips forced into the worn clearance assume the character of a flange or n which supports the briquet on the end of the backing plunger 53 and accordingly does not drop off when the mold is moved to its stripping position.

From the foregoing disclosure it is seen that I have provided a press in which excess or abnormally accumulated material in the working path of the opposed working members, such as the plungers 'i and 53 will be automatically released so that ejection of the excess material or workpiece takes place in a simple and direct manner and the machine is rendered inoperative until normal operating conditions are restored. While the work-piece herein described is specically in the form of a briquet which is of substantial thickness, yet the p-rinciples of operation of my improved combination are applicable to products of various thicknesses including sheet metal. It is also seen that the structure for accomplishing this mode of operation is relatively economical in construction, operation and maintenance and has maximum compactness by reason of the breakable toggle link being part of the normal operating mechanism which specifically is part of the stripping means.

It will of course be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled I in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a press comprising opposed working members between which a workpiece is engaged, power means for effecting relative working ymovement between said members to form the work-piece, means for normally ejecting the work-piece, means rendered operative by said power means automatically in response to an accumulation of material between said opposed working members upon failure of the formed work-piece to be normally ejected, and. means controlled by said responsive means for automatically effecting ejection of said additional material upon occurrence of its accumulation.

2. The combination in a press comprising opposed working members, power means for effecting a substantially predetermined relative movement between Said members to compressively produce a work-piece of substantially desired thickness, means rendered operable by said power means automatically upon failure of said members to obtain said predetermined relative movement, and means controlled by said latter means whereby the compressive action of said members is rendered ineffective automatically upon failure to obtain said predetermined movement.

3. The combination in a press comprising opposed working members between which a workpiece of substantially a, predetermined thickness is compressively produced, power means for effecting a substantially predetermined relative movement between said members so as to produce said thickness, means rendered operable by movement of said power means automaticallyin response to failure of said members to produce a work-piece of substantially said predetermined thickness, and means whose operation is initiated by said last mentioned means whereby said compressive action is rendered ineiectual automatically when said members fail to produce a work-piece of substantially said desired thickness.

4. The combination in a press comprising a mold in which material is formed, a plunger for compressing material in said mold, power means having relatively yieldable elements for actuating said plunger, means actuated in response to a predetermined relative movement between said yieldable elements occurring upon accumulation of excess material in said mold, and means controlled by said responsive means for effecting ejection of said excess material from the mold.

5. The combination in a press comprising a mold, opposed plungers for operating upon `material within said mold, power means having relatively movable hydraulic elements for relatively moving said plunger to compress said material within said mold to a substantially predetermined thickness, means whereby upon occurrence of eX- cess material within said mold the hydraulic elements have a predetermined relative movement between each other, and means controlled by one of said elements to control further compressive action on the material.

6. The combination in a press comprising a floating mold, opposed plungers between which material is compressed within said mold, toggle operated mechanism `for stripping compressed material from Said mold, said toggle mechanism including a .collapsible link that is operable as a rigid link during said stripping, and means for collapsing said link to effect an additional stripping action by said mold so as to render ineffectual the compressive effect of said 'plungers 7. The combination in a press comprising a floating mold, opposed `plungers between which material is compressed to a predetermined extent within said mold, a plurality of :relatively yieldable hydraulically actuated elements for moving one of said plungers until it stops at the end of said compressing operation, toggle operated mechanism for stripping compressed material from said mold, said toggle mechanism including a collapsible link that is operable as a rigid link during said stripping, means actuated in response to a predetermined relative movement between said power elements for collapsing one of said toggle mechanisms thereby preventing said'plungers from completing their compressing operation, and means for effecting a stripping action by said mold automatically upon collapse of said toggle mechanism.

8. The combination in a, press comprising opposed material engaging members for operating upon a work-piece, power means for moving one of said members through a substantially predetermined work stroke, means whereby said power means is adapted to continue :its operation even though said movable material engaging member is stopped prior to the completion of said stroke, mechanism for controlling the operating effect, of said members on a work-piece upon occurrence of said prior stoppage of said movaible member cooperating control elements one of which is associated with said power means vso as to be movable therewith and the other of which is associated with said movable work member so as to have the movements thereof and said control elements .being so relatively positioned that upon said prior stoppage of said movj able work member the control elements are rela.- tively moved into coacting relation, and means initiated by the coaction of said elements to render said mechanism operative.

JAIVLES P. BARBOUR. 

